If you’ve been scrolling through game store pages eyeing the latest Mafia franchise release, you’ve probably asked yourself is Mafia the Old Country deluxe edition worth it, especially if you’re on a tight gaming budget this month. I picked up both the standard and deluxe copies last month to test the differences, after spending 120+ hours playing through the entire Mafia series over the past decade. I don’t waste money on unnecessary DLC or overpriced special editions, so I’m going to break down exactly what you get, who should splurge, and who can stick to the standard version without missing out on anything important. Before we dive in, keep in mind that your final call will depend on how much you care about extra lore, exclusive cosmetics, and early access to side content.
What’s Actually Included in the Mafia: The Old Country Deluxe Edition?
If you’re still on the fence about if Mafia the Old Country deluxe edition worth it, breaking down the actual value of each included item helps put the price in perspective. A lot of deluxe editions pad their offerings with low-effort, throwaway content, but this one has a mix of usable in-game items and bonus lore content for franchise fans. The full list of deluxe exclusive content includes:
- Exclusive 3-hour story side mission following a side character from the main campaign, set 2 years before the core game’s events
- 5 unique vehicle skins and 7 character outfit sets, plus 3 rare weapon variants that can’t be unlocked in the standard edition
- Digital art book with 120 pages of concept art, developer commentary, and cut storyline drafts
- Original soundtrack extended cut with 18 extra tracks not included in the standard game’s audio library
- 7 days early access to the first post-launch free DLC mission, dropping 3 months after the game’s full release
I was surprised at how polished the side mission is, compared to most bonus content from other major game releases. The story ties directly to the main character’s backstory, and it answers a few plot holes that left me confused when I first played the standard campaign. The weapon skins aren’t just for show either: the rare shotgun variant has a 10% higher damage stat than any shotgun you can unlock in the standard edition, which makes tough gunfights way less frustrating for new players. The side mission alone adds roughly 15% more playable story content, which is far more than most deluxe editions offer for the extra $20 price tag.
Who Is Wondering If Mafia: The Old Country Deluxe Edition Worth It? 3 Player Profiles That Should Splurge
The deluxe edition isn’t for everyone, but there are a few groups of players who will get far more value out of the extra content than the average buyer. First, if you’ve played every game in the franchise, collected the art books, and replayed the Mafia 1 remake at least twice, the deluxe edition is a no-brainer. The extended lore in the side mission and art book fills in gaps between this entry and the earlier games, and the developer commentary gives fun behind-the-scenes details about how the team tied the new story to the existing franchise canon.
Completionists who want 100% game completion will also need the deluxe edition if they want to unlock every achievement or trophy. The exclusive weapons, outfits, and side mission all count towards 100% completion, so you won’t be able to get that platinum trophy if you stick to the standard edition. There’s no way to purchase the deluxe content separately later, so you’ll have to repurchase the full game if you decide you want the extra content down the line.
If you play open world games first for the story, not just for random chaos, the extra side mission is well worth the extra cost. The writing is just as tight as the main campaign, and the voice acting is just as high quality as the core game content. I actually enjoyed the side mission’s protagonist more than the main character in a few scenes, which is a nice surprise for extra content. Narrative-focused players will get far more value out of the deluxe content than players who only care about free roam gameplay.
Who Should Skip the Deluxe Edition and Stick to Standard?
Not everyone needs to drop extra cash on the deluxe edition, and there are plenty of cases where you’ll be perfectly happy with the standard copy. If you’re a casual player who only plans to play through the main campaign once and never touch the game again, the extra content won’t be worth the cost for you. The standard edition has 25+ hours of main story content, which is more than enough for a casual playthrough, and you won’t miss any key plot points by skipping the side mission.
If you’re only asking is Mafia the Old Country deluxe edition worth it for the gameplay boost, you can safely pass, since the stat difference is negligible for most players. The weapon stat boost is nice, but it’s not necessary to beat the main game even on the hardest difficulty setting, so you can easily get through every mission without the exclusive gear. The digital art book and soundtrack are only worth it if you actually enjoy looking through concept art or listening to game scores outside of play sessions. If you never use those kinds of extras, you’re just wasting money on content you’ll never open.
I also recommend skipping the deluxe edition if you’re on a very tight budget. The extra content is nice, but it’s not essential, and you can always watch the side mission playthrough online later if you’re curious about the lore. You won’t feel like you’re missing out on core gameplay, even if you skip the deluxe upgrade entirely, so don’t stress if you can’t justify the extra cost right now.
Key Things to Consider Before Making Your Purchase
Before you click buy, there are a few small details I wish I’d known before I purchased both editions. First, the early access to post-launch DLC only applies to the first free mission, not all future paid DLC. You’ll still have to purchase any paid story expansions separately, no matter which edition you buy. A lot of players assume the deluxe edition includes all future DLC, but that’s not the case here, so don’t buy it expecting to get all future content for free.
Second, the exclusive vehicle and character skins can only be used in single player mode, not in any online co-op modes. If you mostly play the game with friends in co-op, you won’t even see the skins you paid extra for, which is a big letdown for a lot of co-op focused players. If co-op is your main reason for picking up the game, the deluxe edition offers almost no extra value for you.
Third, the deluxe edition costs $20 more than the standard edition, which is the same price as most standalone indie games these days. If you have a backlog of 30+ unplayed games like I do, you might be better off buying the standard edition and putting that extra $20 toward a different game you’ve been wanting to try. I probably would have skipped the deluxe edition if I wasn’t testing both for this guide, even as a big franchise fan, just because I have so many other games I haven’t gotten around to playing yet.
At the end of the day, whether is Mafia the Old Country deluxe edition worth it comes down to what you want out of your playthrough. If you’re a long-time franchise fan, a completionist, or a narrative-focused player who wants every bit of lore possible, the extra content is well worth the added cost. If you’re a casual player, only care about co-op, or are on a tight budget, you can stick to the standard edition without missing any of the core game’s best parts. Don’t let marketing hype push you into spending extra money on content you won’t actually use, but if you know you’ll get hours of enjoyment out of the extra mission and lore, it’s a solid purchase that adds a lot of value to the overall experience.
